The band's history starts with a failed short solo career, Everlast teamed up with DJ Lethal and high school friend Danny Boy to form House of Pain. The group was signed to Tommy Boy Records, and their self-titled debut album (1992) went multi-platinum, spawning the successful DJ Muggs produced single Jump Around.
Fashioning themselves as rowdy Irish-American hooligans (Lethal is actually of Latvian heritage), they toured with various rap and alternative-rock bands after their breakthrough. They participated together with Helmet, along with several other rap acts, on the influential 1993 rock-rap collaborative Judgement Night movie soundtrack.
Sophomore album and decline in popularity
Their follow-up effort, 1994's Same As It Ever Was, went gold despite minimal airplay and no major hits. The first single, "On Point," is noted for taking a swipe at another American rapper with a strong Irish heritage, Mark Wahlberg ("Calvin Klein's no friend of mine/So I don't like Marky"). Like Cypress Hill, who, with House of Pain, were a part of the loosely-affiliated Soul Assassins posse, they found urban radio airplay an increasingly closed path, which affected album sales.
Third album
House of Pain abruptly broke up in 1996 after the release of their third album, Truth Crushed To Earth Shall Rise Again, which featured guest appearances by rappers Sadat X of Brand Nubian, Guru of Gang Starr, producer/rapper Divine Styler and reggae singjay Cockni O'Dire (credited as the Scheme Team). On the release date of the album, Everlast announced his departure from the group.
Split, solo and current affairs
From this point on, the status of the group would seem to be in the past tense, though the members would continue their careers separately. Danny Boy would found an art company, DJ Lethal became a member of nu metal band Limp Bizkit, and Everlast would finally get multi-platinum solo fame in 1998. In that year his acoustic rock/blues-inflected Whitey Ford Sings the Blues album hit the charts, together with the single "What It's Like". In 2000, a feud between Everlast and rapper Eminem coincided with the gold-selling Eat at Whitey's, which had minor hits like "Black Jesus" and "Black Coffee", and featured a collaboration with Carlos Santana. After the sale of the Tommy Boy Records catalogue of master tapes to Warner Bros. Music, Everlast signed with Island/Def Jam, and released the solo LP White Trash Beautiful in 2004.
Later the same year Rhino Records, a subdivision of Warner Music, has released a hit collection, Shamrocks & Shenanigans, with singles from Everlast's early solo days, the House of Pain and his post-group solo efforts. Prior to the release, Everlast announced on his official message board that he was not endorsing the compilation album.
Founded by Danny Boy in early 2006, La Coka Nostra is a new project that has reunited him, Everlast and DJ Lethal for the first time since House of Pain's split. Other group members include Ill Bill of Non Phixion, and newcomers Slaine and Big Left.
Members
* Everlast
* Danny Boy
* DJ Lethal
Albums
House of Pain (Fine Malt Lyrics)
* Released: July 21, 1992
* Billboard 200 chart position: #14
* R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #16
* Singles: "Jump Around" & "Shamrocks and Shenanigans"
Same As It Ever Was
* Released: June 28, 1994
* Billboard 200 chart position: #12
* R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #12
* Singles: "On Point", "Who's The Man?" & "Word Is Bond"
Truth Crushed To Earth Shall Rise Again
* Released: October 10, 1996
* Billboard 200 chart position: #47
* R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #31
* Singles: "Pass The Jinn" & "Fed Up"
Shamrocks & Shenanigans
* Released: February 10, 2004
* Billboard 200 chart position: #
* R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #
* Singles: -
Singles
* Jump Around / HOP Anthem (1992)
* Shamrocks & Shenanigans (US) (1992)
* Shamrocks & Shenanigans / Who's The Man (UK) (1992)
* Top O' The Morning To Ya (Remix) (1992)
* Who's The Man? (1993)
* Legend EP (US) (1994)
* On Point (1994)
* Over There (I Don't Care) (1994)
* It Ain't Crime / Word Is Bond (UK, CD 1/2) (1994)
* Legend / It Ain't A Crime (UK, CD 2/2) (1994)
* Word Is Bond / Legend 12" (1995)
* Pass The Jinn (1996)
* Fed Up / Heart Full Of Sorrow feat. Sadat X (1996)
* Fed Up (Remix feat. Guru) (1996)
Exclusive Soundtrack Contributions
* Judgment Night (1993) -- song with Helmet "Just Another Victim"
* Who's the Man (1993) -- song "Who's the Man"
* Eddie (1996) -- song "Punch Drunk"
* Jerky Boys (1996) -- song "Beef Jerky"
X Files
House of Pain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then praise your God
If Islams your thing Allah you Akbar
And if you represent the six pointed star
Then my Heebs back home told me to say Shalom
I put grooves in the mix
I make moves like the Knicks
And take ya straight up the lane
And then I freeze it
Believe it
You need it like Heron
Before you get ya fight on
Kid, get your stare on
Here come the Dondada making ghettos red hotta
I drop the boom bata like Jake Lamatta
I can single you out
And isolate ya like Mono
I'm undefeated like Rocky Marciano
Hit ya right below the belt
Now ya singing saprano
Talk what ya talk still you don't know what I know
[CHORUS]
Some fiend for ass
Some fiend for cash
Some do the knowledge
Some do the math
Some stick to the road
Some stray from the path
Some do the knowledge
Some do the math
Now East Coast
Westcoast
Money, what's the beef
Its goin down rough like swallowin teeth
I say word to Dim Lizzy
Kid I gets busy
And Ill knock all of y'all off this Wonderwall
Cause on a daily basis
I rock like Oasis
Bit the Beatles style from a fetus to a child
I kill fourteen billion cells puffin' L's
Stompin' devils on all nine levels of Hell
Check the transmission
Hear the transition
Observe the technition
INFI(?) Nightvision
Ya hot like reels
I lace my drug deals
As you scheme to check feels
On chicks in high heels
Its all bright and sunny
When ya holdin' big money
Buy my Sonics got Youth
Plus my Muds got Honey
I can be the King of Grunge if I blows my sponge away
here's a little black spot on a sunny day
But y'all don't care if my souls up there
So come on and feel the sting from the true Pain King!
The House of Pain's song X-Files is a rap song that explores different beliefs, cultures, and attitudes. The lyrics start with mentioning Jesus as the lord to be praised and then Allah to be akbar. Then, the rapper talks about the six-pointed star and says "Shalom" as per his Jewish friends' advice. The song keeps moving with rhyming lines, and the rapper boasts about his skills as a basketball player and a drug dealer. He mentions that he can beat his enemies like Rocky Marciano, and he can knock billions of cells by smoking marijuana. The X-Files refers to the popular TV series where they investigate paranormal activities.
The chorus talks about how people have different priorities and beliefs in life. Some of them are looking for sexual pleasures, while others seek cash. Some choose knowledge and others math, and there are some who stick to the path while others stray from it. It shows how people have different choices and how they prioritize their lives, and there is no universal one-size-fits-all solution to life.
Line by Line Meaning
Well if Jesus is your Lord
If you're a Christian, you worship Jesus
Then praise your God
Worship your Lord
If Islams your thing Allah you Akbar
If you're a Muslim, you believe in Allah's greatness
And if you represent the six pointed star
If you're Jewish, you represent the star of David
Then my Heebs back home told me to say Shalom
My Jewish friends told me to say hello
I put grooves in the mix
I create rhythmic patterns in music
I make moves like the Knicks
I move fast and with precision
And take ya straight up the lane
I take the opportunity to succeed
I block out the frame
I remove any distractions or obstacles
And then I freeze it
I take a moment to appreciate my success
Believe it
Trust in what I say
You need it like Heron
You need it like you need drugs
Before you get ya fight on
Before you start a fight
Kid, get your stare on
Focus your attention
Here come the Dondada making ghettos red hotta
The Dondada is here to make the ghettos hot
I drop the boom bata like Jake Lamatta
I hit hard like Jake LaMotta
I can single you out
I can point you out in a crowd
And isolate ya like Mono
I can isolate you like a virus
I'm undefeated like Rocky Marciano
I haven't lost like Rocky Marciano
Hit ya right below the belt
Hit you where it hurts
Now ya singing saprano
Now you're yelling high-pitched
Talk what ya talk still you don't know what I know
You can talk all you want, but you don't know what I know
Some fiend for ass
Some people crave sex
Some fiend for cash
Some people crave money
Some do the knowledge
Some people seek knowledge
Some do the math
Some people like math
Some stick to the road
Some people stick to their path
Some stray from the path
Some people wander from their path
Now East Coast
Now on to the East Coast
Westcoast
West Coast
Money, what's the beef
What's the problem with money?
Its goin down rough like swallowin teeth
Things are getting tough like swallowing teeth
I say word to Dim Lizzy
A reference to the band Thin Lizzy
Kid I gets busy
I'm always working
And Ill knock all of y'all off this Wonderwall
I'll knock all of you off your pedestal
Cause on a daily basis
Because every day
I rock like Oasis
I rock like the band Oasis
Bit the Beatles style from a fetus to a child
I've been imitating the Beatles since I was young
I kill fourteen billion cells puffin' L's
I smoke weed that kills billions of cells
Stompin' devils on all nine levels of Hell
I'm strong enough to beat devils on all 9 levels of Hell
Check the transmission
Check what I'm sending out
Hear the transition
Hear the change in my music
Observe the technition
Watch me do my job
INFI(?) Nightvision
Unknown reference to night vision goggles
Ya hot like reels
You're on fire like a film reel
I lace my drug deals
I mix my music like a drug dealer mixes drugs
As you scheme to check feels
As you try to see if you like it
On chicks in high heels
Referring to women in high heels
Its all bright and sunny
Everything is going well
When ya holdin' big money
When you have a lot of money
Buy my Sonics got Youth
Unknown reference to the Seattle Supersonics
Plus my Muds got Honey
Unknown reference to something valuable
I can be the King of Grunge if I blows my sponge away
I have the potential to be great if I work hard
here's a little black spot on a sunny day
Even in the best of times, there can be a problem
But y'all don't care if my souls up there
But you don't care if my soul is in heaven
So come on and feel the sting from the true Pain King!
Experience the sting of the true House of Pain leader
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERIK SCHRODY, LEOR DIMANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sethnicholls7861
So underrated, classic dope track.
@canadaparlay
So many great bars here. Such an underrated song!!!
@carlcaola6743
Case closed
@tashaelainecrawford5343
@@carlcaola6743 to the morning meeting with a friend and then I'll call u
@knowtilus1389
Legendary track!
I hardly miss these good old times...
@MegaMarlinhunter
Hugely underrated bars and beats from House of Pain.
@sandorfintor
I remember hearing this song when it came out on Power 106...then It didn't get to me. Now I realize - this is an all time classic.
@snoopydoopy9760
it's all bright and sunny when you holdin' big money...
@backlasher7898
So underrated.. still listening 2022!
@matusderer686
old school in 2018 awesome